Cora Reynolds Anderson

Cora Reynolds Anderson (April 10, 1882 – March 11, 1950) was an American politician who served in the Michigan House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party. She was the first woman and Native American elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.

Cora Reynolds Anderson
Member of the
Michigan House of Representatives
from the Iron district[1]
In office
November 4, 1924 – January 7, 1925
Preceded byPatrick H. O'Brien[2]
Succeeded byWilliam C. Birk[3]
Personal details
Born(1882-04-10)April 10, 1882
L'Anse, Michigan, U.S.
DiedApril 11, 1950(1950-04-11) (aged 68)
Pentland Township, Michigan
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Charles Harold Anderson

Early life

Cora Reynolds Anderson was born on April 10, 1882, in L'Anse, Michigan, to Robert B. Reynolds and Madeline Bachand. She was of English, French, and Chippewa descent.[4] She was a member of the first graduating class of L'Anse High School.[1] In 1903, she married Charles Harold Anderson.[5]

Michigan House of Representatives

Elections

In 1924, Anderson won the Republican nomination in the Iron district and won in the general election without opposition to succeed Patrick H. O'Brien.[6][2] She was the first woman and Native American to serve in the Michigan House of Representatives.[7][4] Anderson was inaugurated on November 4, 1924.[4]

On April 28, 1926, Anderson announced at a meeting of the Michigan Federation of Republican Women's clubs that she would seek reelection.[8] During the campaigned she urged other women to seek election to political offices.[9] On July 28, she filed to renomination as the Republican candidate, but was defeated in the primary by William C. Birk.[10][11] No other women were nominated by the Republican Party during the 1926 elections.[12] In the general election Birk won and Anderson left office on January 7, 1925.[4]

Tenure

In 1925, Speaker Fred B. Wells appointed Anderson as chair of the committee on the industrial school for girls at Adrian, Michigan.[13] During the fifty-third session of the Michigan House of Represenatatives from 1925 to 1926 she served on the Agriculture, Insurance, and Northern State Normal School committees.[4]

On September 9, 1925, Anderson was selected to serve as vice president of the Republican Women's Federation of Michigan.[14] From January 5 to 6, 1926, she served as a delegate, as one of the first women to do so, representing Michigan at the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence tidewater congress.[15]

Later life and legacy

Anderson died on March 11, 1950, in Pentland Township, Michigan.[4][1]

On December 19, 2000, the Anderson House Office Building was named in her honor.[16] In 2001, she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.[17]

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See also

References
  1. "Pioneer Woman Legislator Dies". Lansing State Journal. March 13, 1950. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "1924 election results". The Unionville Crescent. November 14, 1924. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "William C. Birk Legislator Details". Library of Michigan. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020.
  4. "Cora Reynolds Anderson Legislator Details". Library of Michigan. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020.
  5. "Marriage". The News-Palladium. January 30, 1925. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "1924 primary results". Detroit Free Press. September 11, 1924. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "L'Anse Representative Will Imitate "Golden Silence" of President, She Says". Detroit Free Press. January 8, 1925. p. 12. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Mrs. Cora Anderson to Run Again, Tells Committee of GOP Federation". Lansing State Journal. April 28, 1926. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Women seek political office". The Unionville Crescent. May 7, 1926. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Only Woman Legislator Files Petitions Wednesday". Associated Press. July 29, 1926. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Anderson loses". Associated Press. September 18, 1926. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "No other women nominated". Battle Creek Enquirer. September 19, 1926. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "First Woman Solon Given Chairmanship of Committee". The News-Palladium. January 13, 1925. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Local Woman On Executive Committee of GOP Body". The News-Palladium. September 10, 1925. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Tidewater Congress Delegates Named". Associated Press. December 19, 1925. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "State House building dedicated to first female representative". The Times Herald. December 20, 2000. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Portrait unveiled of first woman, Native American to serve in Michigan House". WILX-TV. December 9, 2016. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020.
  18. "First woman in the Michigan Senate". Detroit Free Press. March 17, 1987. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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